Blind construction



Aug. 29, 1950 F. E. BRETZ, JR

BLIND CONSTRUCTION 2 Shee ts-Sheet 1 Filed Sept 15, 1946 Patented Aug. 29, 1950 UNITED PATENT Q'FFICE materialism-corms Frank Bretz', In, Oak Parli; Ill, assignor t Ajaxconsolidated Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Aiiisfitatioa -sefiteihber 13, 1946, Serial No. 696,873 Claims. (01. l fi il -l ll ll My invention relates, generally; to blind or window shutter construction and it has partic1i= lar relation to such a? construction for use on railway passenger cars and the-like.

In' 'the' construction of the newer railway passenger cars it isbecoming the practice to pro vide windowsof a length'sufficient tospan two seats: In some designs the windows'are of'sufficie'ntlength to span several seats. It is desirable to provide blinds for window shutters for such windows in order to close or partly'close the same so as to reduce" or prevent light from en tering the car. For example, Venetian blinds of 1e type disclosedin the copending application of August WpDonop; Serial No: 632,185, filed- December 1; l945, maybe used.

Now when a single" blind or window shutter is provided for such awindow' audit is common to two or more passengersseated alongside of the same, human nature being what it is; it is unlikely that the position of the blind or window shutter will= be satisfactory to'all of'the' persons concerned. Thus, one passenger may wish to shut out the light an'dto sleep; while' another passenger may wish'to enjoy the passing land scape. It is not/possible in a single blind o'rwing dow shutter toaccornm'odate' the desiresof both individuals. Accorclinglypamong'the objects of my inventionare': to, provide two or' more individually operable window shutters for a single window that extends past two' or more seats in a railway car or the like so as to permit indi-' vidual adjustment thereof by the seat occupants as desired;-- to provide guiding means between the shutters; to lock said guiding means in oper ative position by readily releasable latch means; and to mountthe shutters on a common support with which they are removable after removal of said guiding means between the shutters.

Other objectsof my invention will, in part, be obvious and in partappear hereinafter.

My invention is disclosed in the embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings and itcomprises the features of construction, combination elements and arrangementof parts which will be exemplifiedin the construction hereinafter set forthand the" scope of the application of which will be indicatedintheappended For a more complete understanding of the ha ture and scope of myinvention; reference may be had to the following detailed description; taken together with the accompanyingdrawings, in-whichz Figure l is'a view,tin'the front elevation, illustrating" how two individually operable blinds or window shutters can be mounted in conjunction with a single window; it

Figure zillustrates how eitherof the blinds or shutters can be raised for cleaning of the window after removal of the intermediate guiding'member or center post; it

Figure" 3' illustrates how both of the blinds or window shutters can be removed from or replaced inthe window frame;

Figure 4 is a view, side elevation, looking along the line 4 i"of Figure5; V

Figure 5' is a cross-sectional view of one end in the'chan'nel and theintermediate channel or uide member in a window construction and showing the positions of the slats of the Venetian blind construction in relation to the window p es? r Figure 6 is a detail sectional view, taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 5 and showing how the head bar, that is common to both blinds and Window. shutters, is latchedinposition; and

Figure F1 isa detail sectional view, taken along the line 1-1101 Figure 5 and'illustrating in more detail "how the center post is retained and releasably latched in operative position.

Referring now; particularly to the drawings, it willbe observed that the reference character it) designates, generally, a, Window frame of a; railway car or the like in which window panes 5, Figures 5 and '7, of glass are suitably mounted as by means oi rubber l2. The windowirame lfl is illustrated in the drawings as bein of suificient length to span, awi ndow which is com mon to twdseats. llo wever it will be understood that the present invention can be em; bodied in a construction in w hich the window is common to more than two seats. The window frame iii includes fascia l3 at the top which conceals; certain of the 1nechanism described hereafter and thereby provides a better appearancgf'or h W w Q SFIl QI Ja .v ,t t in or er qnerm t n ividu l u m t; of the window shutter or blind two suchdevices, as indicated, generally, atl l and li figure l, are pr ded .T e a t u a WindQ nd r hai: ters I4 and ifzl disclosed hereinare of the Vene: tian blind type suchas shown in the copending application of Donop; referred to hereinbeior e; H ev i will be der t d t a v srh a ds or Win w sh tte can b e er d without departing from the scope of the present It will be apparent that the two window shutters I4 and I5 permit individual adjustment by the seat occupants adjacent to same and overcome the disadvantages incident to the use of a single window shutter for the entire window frame I6. However, the provision of two window shutters I4 and I5 requires that they be individually guided, particularly along the line where they are juxtaposed. This is accomplished, as will be described hereinafter, by the provision of a centerpost. This centerpost must be readily and easily removed by unskilled help, such as window washers, in order to permit exposure of the entire inside of the inner window pane II to permit washing thereof. In addition the centerpost must be removable in order to permit the ready removal of the two Window shutters l4 and I5.

The window shutters l4 and I5 are commonly mounted on a head bar I6, Figures 3 and 7, which extend across the same and is substantially of the same length as the window frame Iil. As set forth in the co-pending application of Donop, the head bar I6 carries a roller for tilting and for closing and opening the shutters. Since two window shutters l4 and I5 are provided in accordance with the present invention, two rollers I8 and I9 are individually mounted on head bar I6. Ladder tapes 26 and 2|, Figure 3, support slats 22 and 23 making up the shutters I4 and I5. The tapes 26 and 2| extend over the rollers I8 and I9 in frictional engagement therewith. At their lower ends the ladder tapes 26 and 2| are secured to toe rails or bottom bars 24 and 25 of each of the window shutters I4 and I5. Lift tapes, one of which is indicated at 26 in Figure 6, are connected to the toe rails or bottom bars 24 and 25 and are arranged to be wrapped or wound around the respective rollers I8 and IQ for lifting the slats 22 and 23 or permitting the same to be extended. The lift tapes 26 may extend through apertures, such as apertures 28 in the slat 22, as illustrated in Figure 5. The lift tapes 26 may also pass vertically between rear edge of the slats and the inside edge of the rear section of the ladder tape as disclosed more fully in my co-pending application Serial No. 700,064, filed September 28, 1946.

The outer ends of the slats 22 and 23 and of the toe rails or bottom bars 24 and 25 are guided in suitable guide members or channels 36 and 3| which are secured permanently to the window frame I0. As is shown more clearly in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings the channel 30 is provided with a lining 32 of rubber or the like for cooperating with a releasable holding mechanism at the adjacent end of the toe rail or bottom bar 24 for holding the window shutter I4 in any position therealong. It will be understood that the guide member or channel 3| is similarly constructed.

With a view to removably mounting the head bar I6 in window frame I6, a spring finger 34 is secured, as illustrated more clearly in Figure 6, to the bottom of the guide member or channel 36. The upper end of the spring finger 34 interfits with a shoulder 36 on the adjacent end of the head bar I6 and holds the same in place. It will be understood that the guide member or channel 3| is provided with a similar spring finger and that it cooperates with a similar shoulder at the other end of the head bar I6. This construction permits the head bar I 6, carrying the two window shutters I4 and I5, to be snapped into place on being raised sufficiently high within the frame Ill. By depressing the 4 spring fingers, such as the finger 34, so as to clear the shoulder 36, the head bar I6 can be released and can be removed from the window frame Ill together with the window shutters I4 and I5.

Now the juxtaposed ends of the slats 22 and 23 making up the window shutters I4 and I5 must be guided as well as the juxtaposed ends of the toe rails or bottom bars 24 and 25. For this purpose an intermediate guide member or center post, shown generally at 46, Figure 1, is provided. As indicated hereinbefore, it is necessary that the center post 4|] be removable in order to facilitate washing of the inner pane of the two panes II and also to permit removal of the head bar I6 and the window shutters I4 and I5 mounted thereon.

As illustrated more clearly in Figure 5 of the drawings, the center post 46 comprises a rolled or extruded H-section 4| that is preferably formed of aluminum. The opposite channels of the section 4| are lined, as indicated at 42 and 43, with rubber or the like for the reason set forth hereinbefore.

In order to hold the center post 46 in place, it is provided with a pair of pins 44, Figures 4 and 7, at its lower end which are arranged to interfit with apertures 45, in window sill 46. Similarly at its upper end the center post 46 is provided with pins 41 which are arranged. to interfit with apertures 48 in the under side of head bar Hi. The pins 44 and 47 are of such length, and suificient clearance is provided between the upper end of the center post 46 and the under side of the head bar I6, so as to permit the center post 46 to be lifted vertically and then swung at its lower end away from the window sill 46 a sufiicient amount to permit it to be lowered away from the head bar I6 and the pins 41 to be withdrawn therefrom. If it is desired to avoid the clearance between the upper end of the center post 40 and the head bar I6 to provide an improved appearance, provision can be made for a close fit and reliance placed on springing the head bar l6 upwardly sufficiently far to provide the necessary clearance for removal. When the center post 46 is replaced, this sequence of operations is reversed.

It is desirable to provide locking means for the center post 40 which will insure that it will be held firmly in place in the window frame Ill. At the same time the locking means must be of such a nature that it can be readily operated by unskilled help. Another desirable feature is that the locking means be concealed from view insofar as the interior of the car is concerned.

For this purpose an L-shaped sill plate 49, Figure '7, may be provided underneath the center post 46 and secured to the window sill 46 by suitable screws 56. The upstanding leg of the sill plate 49 may carry a pin 5| with which a notch 52, Figure 4, at the lower end of a latch lever 53 may cooperate. The lever 53 may be pivoted by a pin 54 which extends from the center post 40 toward the window panes The upper end of the lever 53 is flattened, as indicated at 55, to facilitate gripping the same between the thumb and forefinger. Since the latch lever 53 is located on the side of the center post 46 toward the window panes it cannot be seen from the interior of the car.

The upper end of the center post 46 also may be latched, if this is desired. For this purpose a pin 51 may be provided on the head bar I6 for cooperation with a notch 58, Figure 4, at the 5 upper end of a latch lever 59. The lever 59 may be pivoted on a pin fill which extends from the side of the center post 40 adjacent the window panes I I. The lower end of the lever 59 may be flattened, as indicated at 6!, like the lever 53, to permit its being gripped as before.

When it is desired to remove the window shutters M and 15 from the Window frame It, they are first closed to the extent indicated in Figure 2. Then the latch levers 53 and 59 are unlatched and the center post id is removed, as previously described. The leaf springs, such as the spring 3 3, in the channels or guide membars 39 and 3! are depressed and the head bar it is released and may be removed as indicated in Figure 3. By reversing this sequence of operations the window shutters i l and is can be re placed in the Window frame IE3.

Since certain changes can be made in the foregoing construction and different embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all matter shown in the accompanying drawings and described hereinbefore shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. For combination with a single continuous window of a railway car or the like long enough to span at least two seats, a pair of individually operable window shutters for said window to permit the occupants of said seats to adjust said shutters as desired, a support member common to and removabl with said pair of shutters for mounting on the frame of said window, a guide member individual to the outer end of each of said shutters and adapted to be mounted permanently on said frame, and an intermediate guide member for the adjacent ends of said shutters, said intermediate guide member being readily removable to facilitate washing said window and removal of said support member and therewith said shutters.

2. The invention, as set forth in claim 1, wherein manually releasable locking means is provided for locking the intermediate guide member in operative position.

3. The invention, as set forth in claim 1, wherein pins are provided in the ends of the intermediate guide member for insertion in apertures in the window frame and support member for holding said intermediate guide member in operative position in said frame.

4. The invention, as set forth wherein pins are provided in the ends of the intermediate guide member for insertion in apertures in the window frame and support member for holding said intermediate guide member in operative position in said frame, and manually releasable locking means is provided for locking said intermediate guide member in said operative position.

5. The invention, as set forth in claim 1, wherein pins are provided in the ends of the intermediate guide member for insertion in apertures in the window frame and support member for holding said intermediate guide member in operative position in said frame, and a manually operable latch is provided at each end of said intermediate guide member on the window side thereof for cooperating with a pin on an adjacent part of said frame at one end and a pin on the support member at the other end for releasably locking said intermediate guide member in said operative position.

FRANK E. BRETZ, JR.

in claim 1,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 410,440 Paulding Sept. 3, 1889 1,908,165 Moler May 9, 1933 2,287,372 Blodgett June 23, 1942 

